Closure for containers



J. O. FOWLER CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS Filed Jan.

INVENTOR f. $4M

Patented Apr. 22, 1924.

UNITED s'raras JONATHAN 0. rownna, OF-NEW'YORK, N. Y.

CLOSURE FOR CONTAINERS.

Application filed January 20, 1922. Serial No. 530,700.

To all whom it may concern 7 Be it known that I, JONATHAN O. FOWLER,

a citizen of the United States, and resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Closure for Containers, of which the following is a specification, the same being a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as 10 will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

' This invention relates to closures for receptacles adapted to hold liquids, and in particular to a closure means therefor that may be readily applied to vessels containing fluids and which, when inserted in the mouth thereof, or securely placed over the tubular portion as the neck or well of the same, will effectually preclude any of the contents of the same from being spilled in case the container is accidentally overturned, and which will prevent in a great degree evaporation of the liquid and will also continuously supply the fluid at the top of the closure'means as it may be desired for use.

While, owing to the peculiar construction of my invention, the container may be quickly refilled at any time required, yet by the employment of the same the recep- 'tacle may also be just as easily hermetically sealed, as for purposes of transportation or storage for long periods of time, and it may.

be equally readily unsealed again and quickly placed in an operative condition and ready for immediate use.

The device is easy of operation and efficient in action, while the simplicity of the same and the durability of the parts render it of low cost and long life. The invention will be more particularly described with reference to the embodiments thereof which are comprised in the preferred use of the same, as, in the present instance, in connection with inkstands, as shown in the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification. 7

Broadly stated, my invention consists of a. container having a, tubular portion as a neck, a diaphragm made of elastic material positioned above and extending across the neck, and a dip-cup supported by the diaphragm.

I also employ a closure means for the container made of suitable material and comprising a. device having a lower apertured portion extending across the side of and having a central orifice for the entrance of the pen and located above the diaphragm. The said closure means may also have a ledge or bearing means intermediate the upwardly extending housing and the downwardly extending attachment means portions whereby the periphery of the diaphragm may be held and, upon the attachment means being screwed down, pressed downwardly and tightly stretched overthe edge of the neck to form a liquid tight seal exterior of the opening of the neck. in consequence of which the depression of the dipcup by the pen will force the diaphragm downwardly and compress the air within the container and so force the ink up through the bore of the dip-cup to the mouth thereof.

The housing, bearing and attachment devices, which together constitute the stepped closure means, may be of uniform thickness and made in dual form as shown in Figures 1 and 3, but are not necessarily structurally independent as, if desired, the saidclosure elements may be of a single or unitary construction as illustrated in Figures 2 and 4:.

In the drawings illustrative of examples of my closure means 7 Figure 1 represents a View in section of an article constructed according to my invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view of another structure in which the invention is embodied; and

Figures 3 and a are views in detail of parts-of the structures respectively shown in Figures land 2. 1

"Referring more particularly to the drawings, thenumeral 1 denotes a container having 'an interior space 2-, as for example an inkstand or bottle of the type that is provided with a neck or well 2 having an exteriorly threaded portion and an upper flat and outer rounded edge, On the said thread is secured the attachment device 4 which forms the lower portion of my closure means and extends across the well 2 or neck of the container along the side portion thereof, and is ordinarily constructed with a threaded rim 6 to engage the exterior of the neck.v

My closure means also comprises an upper and preferably narrower housing 3 with a wall ordinarily gradually diminishing in diameter and reduced in width at the upper part thereof so as to form the frustum of a cone, and a top face having a mouth or orifice 14 preferably formed with a downturned rim or fiange la, which orifice may be hermetically sealed by a cork 13 during storage or shipment of the container, if desired. The cork may thus serve as a device to close the closure means in addition to that afforded by the diaphragm. The flaring mouth of the dip-cup is sufficiently large to avoid displacement of the same by the insertion of the cork. The said housing may also serve to guide the upward movement of the dip-cup 9 and to prevent undue withdrawal and elevation of the latter as well.

My closure means also comprises a bearing portion 5 lying inwardly as regards the thread and substantially horizontally positioned exteriorly and interiorly and located above the diaphragm intermediate and having a diameter intermediate in length of those of the housing and threaded attachment means.

A diaphragm 7 made of elastic material, as of sheet rubber, extends across and entirely over the neck 2 and is formed with a central orifice the periphery of which diaphragm is, held between the rounding neck edge and the bearing ring portion of the closure means. Stress is exerted upon the said periphery to thereby stretch the same by the bearing 5 at the said rounded edge exteriorly of the bottle neck or well 2 increasing accordingly as the attachment portion of the closure means is screwed down on the neck. The diaphragm is preferably so fitted within the closure means that the said diaphragm, dip-cup supported thereby and closure means may be held together as an entirety when unattached to or removed from the container.

An open space or annular channel or pocket is formed interior the top part of the thread of the attachment means 4 and between the same and the exterior or outside edge of the tubular portion of my container comprising the well or neck 2 in which the turned down edge of the diaphragm 7 lies (as clearly appears in Figures 3 and 4) when the bearing 5 is pressed downwardly upon the same to form the liquid tight seal there at. When the periphery of the diaphragm is so compressed by the pressure of the bearing element the rubber will flow into the said pocket or channel thereby forming a sort of gasket around the outside edge of the said neck.

Adjacent to and above the diaphragm I sometimes place a spring 8. This spring is ordinarily positioned intermediate the central portion of the diaphragm and the top of the dip-cup and may assist in holding the dip-cup and the diaphragm engaged therewith in proper operative position, in cases where it is deemed desirable to use the said spring.

The said dip-cup 9, which is located in the well 2 of the container, is formed with a tapered'bore 12 terminating in a flaring mouth 12 lying under the rim 14; and a groove or shouldered portion as at 11 with which the upper face of the diaphragm is engaged within the enclosing closure means. As the diameter of the diaphra m, which when made lies in one plane anc is therefore called by me a flat or plane diaphragm, is somewhat greater than that of the interior of the closure, the said diaphragm, the upper face of which bears against a shoulder 11 of the dip-cup, will become arched and will assume a concave-convex position when inserted in the said closure, thus maintaining the dip-cup in an elevated relation, and upon the attachment means being screwed to the container, the periphery of the diaphragm will lie substantially flat on the container neck and the extreme edge thereof will be forced by the rounding edge of the bearing over the rounding edge of the said neck. This movement serves to elevate and centre the dipcup which has at its top a bevelled edge which readily works along the interior face of the conically shaped housing and preferably normally lies under the rim 14, the bevel of the dip-cup and the incline of the housin running in similar directions and the said diaphragm, upon being released, resuming its flat face and edge position. The dip-cup is preferably made out of a porous material, as wood, and suitably treated with a liquid resisting material, as paraflin, to fill the pores thereof sufficientl to resist the entrance therein of liquids. t also preferably has a flange 10 against which the top of the spring-if used-may rest.

Upon the depression of the dip-cup the liquid under air pressure caused by the descent of the diaphragm will be unable to enter the latter andthe pores at the exterior of the dip-cup or along the face of the bore as the same are closed by the'liquid resisting material and will consequently be forced upwardly through the said bore. The use of the said adherence preventing paraflin prevents the diaphragm and dip-cup from becoming cemented together by the ink.

In cases where it is not convenient to make the attachment means and the housing means in one piece, I prefer to arrange the interior diameter of the attachment means exterior of the bearing and the exterior diameter of the housing interior of the bearing respectively in such a manner that when the said parts-are assembled they will be held together with a friction fit. Where so desired, however, my closure means may consist of a single or unitary structure as the example illustrated in Figures 2 and 4 where the housing 3, the bearing or diaphragm stretching means 5' and the attachment body portion 4', which extends across the well 2 of the container and the side of the said neck thereof, and the threaded securing means 6 thereof are shown as consisting of but a single structure, the functions and operation of the same and the results attained by the use of the said parts being identical with those attained by the corresponding parts 3, 4c, 5 and 6 of the example of the invention and dual structure shown in Figures 1 and 3.

It will therefore be seen that the above named elements exercise the same functions, are used for the same purpose and produce the same results whether they are combined in a single structure as shown in one example, or whether they are in dual conformation as illustrated in the other example. Consequently, although different in structure, yet the two said examples are, in a patentable sense, identical and like embodiments of the invention, as each of them comprises a container 1 having a well 2, a diaphragm (7) ositioned above and extending across the well, a dip-cup (9) supported by the diaphragm, and a closure means comprising a device having a lower apertured portion (4 or i) extending across said well and also having means (6) for attachment to the said container, said closure means further comprising a housing (3 or 3) reduced in width at the top thereof and located entirely above the diaphragm, said closure means also having engaging means (the bearing 5 or 5) whereby the periphery of the diaphragm may be pressed down- \rardly to form a. liquid tight seal exterior of the opening of the well.

In each of the said examples of the invention the housing portion of the closure means which is narrower than the bearing serves as a guide for the upward movement of the dip-cup and to surround the upper face and side portions of the latter and as holding means for the cork, and also as a means for preventing the liquid from running out of the container if the same is accidentally overturned as the same will be caught by the down turned rim. The bearing portion of the closure means serves as a means for holding the periphery of the diaphragm on and over the outer rounded edge of the neck of the receptacle. The attachment portion of the closure means which is wider than the bearing serves to provide means to engage the threaded well 2 of the container and to move the entire closure means, diaphragm and dip-cup up and down thereon and to exert stress on and thereby stretch the diaphragm at and over the rounded exterior of said neck to form a liquid tight seal and also to hold the housing in proper operative position. The dip-cup provides means to engage the diaphragm and carries a filler to repel theliquid, and also has a tapered bore gradually enlarged from the bottom to preventthe liquid from Spurting therefrom when depressed. The diaphragm serves to support the dip-cup in normal elevated position and to provide means for compressing the air within the container when depressed and thereby cause the liquid to rise to the top of the dip-cup and also to return the latter to its normal position after having been depressed.

Evaporation of the liquid will be very slight on account of the small diameter of the bottom of the bore of the dip-cup.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the particular use or the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to persons skilled in the art.

hat I claim as my invention is 1. In a device of the class described, a container having an exteriorly threaded tubular portion comprising a horizontal upper face and a rounded edge, a diaphragm the outer part of which is adapted to rest thereupon vin flat position, a dip-cup supported by the latter, and a closure for the container havingan attachment device comprising threaded means to engage the said threaded tubular portion but spaced away from the exterior top edge of said tubular portion, and a bearingpart positioned above the attachment device to rest on the periphery of the diaphragm, and also a housing to cover the said tubular portion, whereby, by pressing the closure on the latter the diaphragm edge is forced downwardly in said i open space to form a liquid seal thereat.

2. In a device ofthe class described, a container having a well with an upper rounded edge, a dip-cup in the latter, a diaphragm to support the dip-cup and extending across the neck, and'an enclosing closure means comprising a housing portion to prevent undue withdrawl of the dip-cup, and attachment means to engage the exterior of the said neck, and an intermediate inwardly bearing part to'rest on' the periphery of thediaphragin and to exert stress'upon the latter at the said rounded edge increasing accordingly as the closure means is forced downwardly on the neck to form a liquid tight seal exterior of the latter.

3. In a device of the class described. a container, an exteriorly and interiorly stepped closure therefor comprising attachment means, a substantially conic-ally shaped housing having at the top thereof an aperture with a down turned rim, and a bearing intermediate the attachment meansand housing, a dip-cup formed with a flaring mouth and having a recessed body portion, and a diaphragm the central part of which is adapted to engage and support the dipcup within the closure and the outer portion is extended under the bearing, the top edge of the dip cup being bevelled to readily work along the interior face of the conically shaped housing in its rising movement, the bevel of the dip-cup and the incline of the housing running in similar directions.

4;. In a device of the class described, a container with a threaded well having a round ing edge, a stepped closure therefor com prising a vertical attachment means and. a superposed horizontal bearing of less diameter and an upper tapering housing of still less diameter, an elastic flat or plane diaphragm larger in diameter than the interior of the closure, and a dipup supported by the diaphragm, whereby when the diaphragm is inserted in the closure it will assume a substantially concavo-convex position and, upon the attachment means being screwed on the container, the simultaneous engagement of the vertical attachment means and the horizontal housing with the side and top of said neck will cause the periphery of the diaphragmto lie substantially flat on the said neck and the extreme edge thereof to be forced over the rounded edge of the said container neck, the walls of said attachment means, housing and bearing being of equal thickness and consisting of an integral and unitary single piece of metal.

5.111 a device of the class described, a container to hold an ink possessing adhesive properties and having a well, a dip-cup in the well made of porous material and having a bore, the exterior of the dip-cup and the. face of the bore being treated with a liquid resisting and gumming or adherence preventing substance, a diaphragm to support the coated dip-cup and extending across the well, and an enclosing closure means comprising a housing portion and attachment means to engage the exterior of the well, and an intermediate inwardly lying bearing part to rest on the periphery of the diaphragm and to exert stress upon the latter at the well edge to form a liquid tight seal, whereby, even in long use, upon the depression of the dip-cup the liquid under pressure will be prevented from entering the exterior of the dip-cup and the face of the bore, and

will flow upwardly through the said bore.

6. In a device of the class described, a container with a weil having a rounding exterior edge, a closure therefor comprising attachment means, a superposed housing and a bearing having a rounded interior edge, an elastic fiat or plane diaphragm larger in diameter than the interior of the closure, and a dip-cup supported by the diaphragm, whereby when the diaphragm is inserted in the closure when detached from the container it will by said operation assume a substantially concavo-convex position at its outer part, and upon the attachment means being pressed on the container the periphery y of the diaphragm will lie substantially flat on the well and the extreme edge thereof will be forced over the rounded edge of the weli and under the rounding edge of the bearing, the diaphragm being adapted to resume its plane position upon being detached.

7. In a device of the class described, a container, a dip-cup comprising a porous body portion and an interior bore, the exterior of the dip-cup and the face of the bore being treated with a liquid resisting and gumming or adherence preventing substance, a closure means for the container having means. for attachment to the latter and formed with an upper interior rounded edge and a lower exterior rounded bearing portion; closure sealing means around and below the rounded bearing portion and located intermediate the latter and the container and also enclosing the dip-cup and closure sealing means extending around the upper rounded edge of the closure means and above and below the same.

'8. In a device of the class described, a container, a dip-cup therein, a closure means for the container having means for attachment to the latter and formed with an upper interior rounded edge and a lower exterior rounded bearing portion; closure sealing means a'ound and below the rounded bearing portion and located intermediate the latter and the container and also enclosing the dip-cup, and closure sealing means extending around the upper rounded edge of the closure means and above and below the Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 6th day of January, A. D. 1922.

JONATHAN O. FOWLER. 

